Bridgeton pioneer., 1887-05-12
BRIDGEToN, N. j., THURSDAY, MAY 12, 1887.

William Bradford Is an oysterman
and has followed the water for sixteen
years. On the night in question he
was first hand'' on board the Tidal
Wave" and corroborated previous
testimony as to the moving of his
vessel and to the occurrences of the
moving. Told in detail, much as Cap
tain Newcomb had done, the manner
in which the several boats were fixed,
the strength of wind, what was done
to prevent disaster, etc
After the testimony of William
Hand and Lewis Page, Mr.. Mitchell
opened the case for the defense.
He outlined the defense in the case
in brief but succinct statement of
what is claimed by the plaintiff, and
his answer thereto. He claimed that
the damage done was due to the
storm, and therefore that it was 1.-THE
Act of God" and hence the defendant
should and could not be held re-
sponsible. Again, if the defendant,
Bowman, used every precaution sug-
gested by ordinary prudence, and
which a wise foresight dictated, he
had done his full duty and could not
be charged with disaster that might
follow. That Capt. Downam had SO
conducted himself, the counsellor in
sisted, and then proceeded to a re-
view of the facts thus far developed,
and suggested some additional ones
which he proposed to bring out.
He insisted that in all respects his
client had done his full moral and
legal duty, had provided and used
proper chains and ropes in making his
anchorage, and that it was the unusual
power and strength of the gale that
caused the damage, and that it was in
no sense attributable to a want of
human foresight on the part of Dow
nam. He also charged that Capt.
Newcomb, one of the owners of the
Davis, was declared with contribu-
tory negligence, and in view of all
these facts, he was entitled to the YER
dict of the Jury.
At about half past ten o'clock the
Jury in the Garrison-Durgin case filed
into the Court room, with smiles on
their faces, evidently pleased that they
had at last agreed, and after being
polled by Clerk Godfrey handed in a
verdict of $3.50 for Garrison, after
which they were discharged until next
Tuesday morning. 1t is now under
stood that the cause of the long ''hold
out" was as to the amount of damages
that should be awarded, they readily
agreeing that Garrison was entitled to
some compensation.
At no one time Thursday were there
more than fifty persons without the
rail that bars the general public from
the sacred space reserved for Court
officers, litigants and lawyers. The
reason of this light attendance was
the absence of exciting or especially
interesting features, the business trans
acted being only the trial of the New
comb-Downam suit which dragged its
slow length along through the entire
day. So surfeited became the hearers
with the story of ship and rope and
sail, of wind and wave and storm, that
there was imminent danger of all land
lubbers present being taken seriously
ill with seasickness. This was happily
averted, however, and at five o'clock,
when Court was dismissed, the only i'll
effect observable was little unsteadi-
ness in the gait of the NeacS man as he
wandered down Broad street. He
appeared as though he was on his
''sea-legs."
The first ripple of interest, to trans
pire was the Garrison-Durgin verdict
This was not sufficiently intense to last
much longer than while the jury were
in sight, or possibly during the few
added moments while the shrewd
Yankee defendant was gathering his
model under his arm and making his
adieus to counsel.
When the Grand Jury was an
nounced, and made its presentment to
the Court, there was something akin
to excitement for a short time, as it
was we'll known that much important
business had been submitted to it, and
there was inquiry in all minds whether
in such and such cases bills had been
found.
Coming at the close of the morning
session, it formed fruitful subject of
conversation during the noon recess,
and Sheriff and Ccnstables were close
ly watched by many, in the hope of
securing additional information or
pointers from their actions, or from
the direction in which they turned
their steps, it being suspected that
warrants might be Immediately issued
and served But the work of the
prosecuting officers was well concealed,